What does אָלָה (alah) mean in the Bible?
אָלָה (alah): Oath or curse involving self-imprecation—invoking divine punishment if one breaks covenant obligations
Hebrew · H423
אָלָה
An imprecation
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
אָלָה H423
Pronunciation alah
What does אָלָה (alah) mean in the Bible?
אָלָה (alah): Oath or curse involving self-imprecation—invoking divine punishment if one breaks covenant obligations
Full entry for אָלָה (H423) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H423?
The BSB source-word alignment has 35 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include oath (4), the oath (3), to take an oath (3), a curse (2), an object of cursing (2).
Where does אָלָה (alah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 24:41. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (6), Ezekiel (5), Jeremiah (4), Numbers (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It oath 4× Deuteronomy 29:14, Deuteronomy 29:19, Nehemiah 10:29, Ezekiel 17:16
the oath 3× Proverbs 29:24, Ezekiel 16:59, Ezekiel 17:18
to take an oath 3× 1 Kings 8:31, 2 Chronicles 6:22
a curse 2× Isaiah 24:6, Jeremiah 29:18
an object of cursing 2× Jeremiah 42:18, Jeremiah 44:12
curses 2× Numbers 5:23, Deuteronomy 30:7
the curses 2× Deuteronomy 29:21, 2 Chronicles 34:24
- 1× Genesis 24:41
accursed 1× Numbers 5:27
an attested 1× Numbers 5:21
an oath 1× Genesis 26:28
and into His oath 1× Deuteronomy 29:12
charge 1× Leviticus 5:1
curse 1× Deuteronomy 29:20
cursing 1× Psalms 10:7
from my oath 1× Genesis 24:41
in the curses 1× Psalms 59:12
is the curse 1× Zechariah 5:3
My oath 1× Ezekiel 17:19
of the curse 1× Numbers 5:21
so the oath 1× Daniel 9:11
the curse 1× Jeremiah 23:10
under oath 1× Ezekiel 17:13
with a curse 1× Job 31:30
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 24:41 מֵאָ֣לָתִ֔י to - Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Genesis 24:41 מֵאָלָתִֽי׃ to from my oath Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Genesis 26:28 אָלָ֛ה to an oath Noun - feminine singular Leviticus 5:1 אָלָ֔ה to charge Noun - feminine singular Numbers 5:21 הָאָלָה֒ to of the curse Article | Noun - feminine singular Numbers 5:21 לְאָלָ֥ה to an attested Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Numbers 5:23 הָאָלֹ֥ת to curses Article | Noun - feminine plural Numbers 5:27 לְאָלָ֖ה to accursed Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular Deuteronomy 29:12 וּבְאָלָת֑וֹ to and into His oath Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 29:14 הָאָלָ֖ה to oath Article | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 24:41
Aligned rows 35
Books represented 15
Genesis 3 Leviticus 1 Numbers 4 Deuteronomy 6 1 Kings 1 2 Chronicles 3 Nehemiah 1 Job 1 Psalms 2 Proverbs 1 Isaiah 1 Jeremiah 4 Ezekiel 5 Daniel 1 Zechariah 1
Source forms
אָלָ֖ה 4x ’ā·lāh 1 Kings 8:31, 2 Chronicles 6:22, Ezekiel 16:59, Ezekiel 17:18
אָלָה֙ 2x ’ā·lāh Isaiah 24:6, Jeremiah 23:10
בְּאָלָ֣ה 2x bə·’ā·lāh Nehemiah 10:29, Job 31:30
לְאָלָ֤ה 2x lə·’ā·lāh Jeremiah 29:18, Jeremiah 42:18
אָלָ֛ה 1x ’ā·lāh Genesis 26:28
אָלָ֔ה 1x ’ā·lāh Leviticus 5:1
אָלָ֤ה 1x ’ā·lāh Psalms 10:7
אָלָ֥ה 1x ’ā·lāh Proverbs 29:24
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular 9x Genesis 26:28, Leviticus 5:1, 1 Kings 8:31, Psalms 10:7
Article | Noun - feminine singular 6x Numbers 5:21, Deuteronomy 29:14, Deuteronomy 29:19, Deuteronomy 29:20
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular 5x Numbers 5:21, Numbers 5:27, Jeremiah 29:18, Jeremiah 42:18
Article | Noun - feminine plural 3x Numbers 5:23, Deuteronomy 30:7, 2 Chronicles 34:24
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular 3x Nehemiah 10:29, Job 31:30, Ezekiel 17:13
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular 2x Genesis 24:41
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular 1x Deuteronomy 29:12
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular 1x Psalms 59:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Oath or curse involving self-imprecation—invoking divine punishment if one breaks covenant obligations
Source Gloss
an imprecation
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Oath or curse involving self-imprecation—invoking divine punishment if one breaks covenant obligations
an imprecation BDB: oath Usage: curse, cursing, execration, oath, swearing.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Binding oath invoking judgment.
A sworn promise often invoking covenant consequences.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 36 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אָלָה is built from this root:
אָלָה H422
Why This Word Matters
The oath highlights accountability and seriousness in covenant renewal. Isaiah 24:1-6
The curse represents covenant sanction unleashed upon transgression. Nehemiah 10:1-39
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain